Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 24) — Authorities are preparing for the expected high volume of Filipinos in terminals and memorial parks as they commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this year, following the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of cemeteries during Undas.
Starting Oct. 29, at least 150,000 commuters are expected daily in the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) as it is a hub for public utility vehicles (PUVs) headed to south of Metro Manila, including provinces of Cavite, Batangas, and Bicol Region.
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“As early as two weeks ago nakipag-coordinate na tayo sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno upang alalayan tayo dito,” said Jason Salvador, corporate affairs and government relations head of the terminal.
In a government briefing on Monday, Salvador said “Anti-COVID-19 ambassadors” will ensure that minimum public health standards are observed in the terminal.
He also said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will issue special permits in case PITX needs additional buses.
On the other hand, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said it will position more security personnel and put up Oplan Help desks as part of its preparations for the influx of passengers until the Christmas season.
The MIAA said that the total monthly passenger traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has reached 77% of pre-pandemic levels or around 3 million passengers in August.
Domestic traffic has peaked to around 1.94 million travelers or 109% compared to August 2019.
Meanwhile, international passenger traffic is gradually recovering at over 50% or 1.06 million passengers.
Preparations in cemeteries
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said 17,000 in Metro Manila will be deployed during Undas to transport terminals and “places of convergences” or possible locations where families would visit after going to cemeteries.
“Although sa sementeryo, specific kung magkakaroon ng deployment diyan, pero dahil full alert ang buong bansa, dapat po lahat ng pulis ay naka-duty,” said PCol. Redrico Maranan, PNP’s chief public information officer.
[Translation: Although in cemeteries, the deployment there would be specific, but since the country is on full alert, all police officers should be on duty.]
The PNP said it will set up motorists’ assistance centers as part of its high police visibility program while its health service department will also send medical teams.
A total of 328 police officers, meanwhile, will be stationed in the Manila North Cemetery (MNC), as well as firetrucks, ambulances, and health teams, the cemetery’s director Roselle Castañeda told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon.
Castañeda said MNC, Manila’s largest cemetery, is expecting at least a million people to visit.
She reminded that children with ages 12 years old and below are only permitted to enter if they show their vaccination cards at the main entrance. Face masks must also be worn at the entrance gate and crowded areas.
READ: Filipinos prepare ahead of All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day
[Translation: As early as two weeks ago, we have coordinated with government agencies to support us during Undas.]
For its part, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Office will send teams to various transport terminals in the National Capital Region to conduct monitoring activities and ensure orderliness in these areas.
“We are already doing this like as if the (COVID-19) pandemic is gone already. So we expect yung mobility ng tao mas malawak, maraming pasahero, maraming behikulo ang magta-travel along the road dito sa weekend na ito,” said LTO executive director Horatio Enrico Bona.
[Translation: So we expect that the mobility of people will be more expansive, more passengers, more vehicles will travel along the roads during the weekend.]
“I cannot exactly tell the volume of the (vehicles) but I think it will be very big compared to the last two years,” he added.
